done!

January seems to go on forever: cold, dark, snowy, icy and bleak; basically, a grim old introduction to a new year. But luckily for me, in her infinite wisdom, M planned ahead and late last year booked us a night away at a B&B in a location only revealed to me on the day. So last weekend we headed south, via her parents' in Somerset, and spent a couple of days on the south Devon coast. We visited Beer, a nice little fishing village, then Sidmouth and ended up in Budleigh Salterton, a very pleasant seaside town and winner of my award for Friendliest Place in Britain. It was so friendly, M (born and raised in Cornwall) had to grudgingly re-evaluate her lifelong suspicion of Devon folk. No mean feat. We stayed in a very comfortable B&B on the outskirts of town and enjoyed a meal in comfy local pub on Friday night. As we walked back along the seafront the moonlight reflected on the calm sea was an unforgettable sight (typically, I whipped out my Canon G9 at this point but unfortunately it doesn't handle night very well). We woke on Saturday to clear blue skies, sunshine and a heavy frost. After downing a huge breakfast and checking-out we headed across town to the nature reserve and embarked on a riverside walk inland. Never have I been greeted by so many people as we passed. We ended up at Otterton Mill, a centre for crafts with a gallery, bakery, restaurant and shop before walking back to the seafront. We spent another night in Somerset before returning to the city on Sunday. The following day was 1st February so that was another bleak old January crossed off. 'Done!' as Gordon Ramsay would say...